Foundations of Biblical Justice and Law

1456 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Application of justice in society

In life, people are aware of many prospective of justice and the law. Often, people will reflect on the similarities and their differences but not truly knowing how they work. What becomes questionable is whether justice is law or law is justice. Then I shall try to indicate as clearly as possible the different views of justice and the law from a biblical view and from man’s ideal.
Theological Definition
Justice
Justice has various forms within the bible and our society. Its most basic meaning is treat mankind with love, respect and equitably. Let’s consider the biblical justice; it encompasses individuals, communities, and the cosmos whole, by upholding both goodness and impartiality. It stands at the center of true religion. In a sentence: In James 1:27 (New International Version), James stated that the kind of “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” According to Metzger (2010), “Earlier Scripture says, ‘The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern’ (Prov. 29:7).” It also means the treatment of others will not go unpunished, regardless of race and/or social class. If you do the crime or something wrong, then your misshaps shall be given same punishment or treated the same. This is important to remember especially when writers or readers introduce justice from bible and make references to our God as “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:4-5 New International Version).
Biblical Foundation
The foundation of justice starts with God’s love as explained and lectured from our scripture notes or bible reading. We have all heard the sto...

... middle of paper ...

...iblestudytools.com/topical-verses/
Etzel, G., & Gutierrez, B. (2012). Praxis: Beyond theory. Virginia Beach, Va: Academx Publishing Services, Inc.
Feely, S. K. (2007, Feb 13). The biblical foundations of justice. Retrieved from https://corneliaconnellylibrary.org/.../BiblicalFoundationsJustice.pdf
Law, the. (2014). Retrieved from http://carm.org/dictionary-law
Metzger, P. L. (2010, September 20). What is biblical justice?. Retrieved from http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2010/summer/biblicaljustice.html
Pennsylvania state police: Call of honor. (1929). Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/psp/4451/hide_-_call_of_honor/461666
Schafer, G. E. (1996). Peace. In W. A. Elwell (Ed.), Baker’s evangelical dictionary of biblical theology. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-
evangelical-dictionary/

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Martin Luther King Letter From Birmingham Jail

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King guilts the clergymen for the first time when he brings up their moral wrongness. King says that he has a “moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (4). He summarizes why laws are just or unjust by stating, “A just law is a man-made code that

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The George S. May Company

    2426 Words  | 5 Pages

    Much like the laws in the Old Testament, the law is God solving a problem before it occurs (Maxwell, 2010). As Reggie Joiner reminds us: “Relationship comes before rules” (Maxwell, 2010, 176). If a relationship forms, rules are easier to embrace. Rules are a tool to keep the ship and everyone on it going in the same direction. Shared systems of values strengthen partnerships minimizing the possibility of comprise. Values determine our actions. Our conscience can be a fickle thing if not tended to. A good study of 1 Timothy 1:5 will sharpen the cause for keeping the conscience in order and know that a good conscience is the product of a pure heart. Finally, we trust fully in God’s promises to comfort us, but need to share that same comfort through an empowerment to do so from God himself. Kept promises are the glue that holds all the guidelines together and shuttles them into the heart and soul of mankind by building

    Read More

  • Comparing Aeschylus Oresteia And Plato's Republic

    1494 Words  | 3 Pages

    Justice is generally thought to be part of one system; equally affecting all involved. We define justice as being fair or reasonable. The complications fall into the mix when an act of heroism occurs or morals are written or when fear becomes to great a force. These complications lead to the division of justice onto levels. In Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Plato’s Republic and Apology, both Plato and Aeschylus examine the views of justice and the morality of the justice system on two levels: in the city-state and the individual. However, Plato examines the justice system from the perfect society and Aeschylus starts at the curse on the House of Atreus and the blood spilled within the family of Agamemnon.

    Read More

  • Theme of Justice in the Odyssey and the Bible

    2498 Words  | 5 Pages

    Justice is a theme that differs in many different texts, and this also true in the Odyssey and the Bible.  Justice in Homeric texts was served to neutralize a situation and bring things back to the way they were, to a time of stability and respect for authority.  The bible has usually been interpreted, however, as serving justice on a moral basis, as a way to punish those who did not respect each other or act in God likeness.

    Read More

  • Abortion: An Examination of Morality and Justice

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many major religions follow this conduct, in different ways but this helps us build a conscience in us. When Kushner asked his student why was Hitler wrong, the students were outrageous at his question, “You can’t pass laws permitting the gassing of little children just because they’re Jewish.” Hitler was following the law he made, but he was still wrong. His ideas to kill someone because of their race makes us wince, and that is our “sense of injustice.” Kushner gives an example of Homer’s Iliad, where gods take sides. Much like Homer’s The Odyssey, where Poseidon wants to punish Odysseus because he blinded his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus is however supported by the daughter of Zeus, the goddess of wisdom and battle, Athena. She disguises herself as a Mentor and guides both Telemachus and Odysseus. Odysseus displeases Poseidon but is in the protection of a stronger one, “The issue is not what is right but who has the might.” Our “sense of injustice” comes from our moral standards, when we see something wrong happening we can’t help but feel bad for the person. It is hard to see something wrong happening, but that’s what the most amazing part of human kind, what is wrong to you might not be wrong to someone

    Read More

  • Judaism vs. Christianity

    343 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus endorses agape, or selfless love (in contrast to eros, or possessive love), which consists of dedication to another person’s good, even at the expense of our own good and happiness. People should practice peace and nonviolence, return good for evil and love for suffering (“turn the other cheek”). This leads to a special conception of justice, called the “divine justice”, which is based on giving a person what he or she needs rather than deserves (e.g., in case of a crime, redemption rather getting even).

    Read More

  • Corrections & the Criminal Justice System: Recidivism & Re-Entry

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rothchild, J., Boulton, M. M., & Jung, K. (2012). Doing justice to mercy: Religion, law, and criminal justice. Charlottesville, VA, USA: University of Virginia Press.

    Read More

  • Justice in Plato's Republic

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    Justice. What is justice? In this world where many people look out only for themselves, justice can be considered the happiness of oneself. But because selfish men do not always decide our standards in society, to find a definition, society should look at the opinions of many. Just as in the modern society to which we live, where everyone feels justice has a different meaning, the society of Plato also struggled with the same problem. In this paper, I will look into the Republic, one of the books of Plato that resides heavily on defining an answer to the meaning of Justice, and try to find an absolute definition. I will also give my opinion on what I personally think justice is.

    Read More

  • The Republic Book 1

    1661 Words  | 4 Pages

    Book 1 of Plato's Republic raises the question what is justice? Four views of justice are examined. The first is that justice is speaking the truth and paying one's debt. The second is that justice is helping one's friends and harming one's enemies. The third view of justice is that it is to the advantage of the stronger. The last view is that injustice is more profitable than justice.

    Read More

  • The Notions of Justice in The Republic and Antigone

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    Within two classical works of philosophical literature, notions of justice are presented plainly. Plato’s The Republic and Sophocles’ Antigone both address elements of death, tyranny and immorality, morality, and societal roles. These topics are important elements when addressing justice, whether in the societal representation or personal representation.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Bible Justice System

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bryan, it appears that South Carolina’s court system is similar to that of Missouri. I appreciated you thread and with that being said, Professor has proposed the following question, “If there could be changes made to make our court system more compatible with the biblical model, what would it be and why?” Most would agree that our country was founded on Christian principles and those that don’t should thank their lucky stars that we were (e.g., atheists, socialists). Our God is God of “all” and that includes civil government. The practical reality of liberal politics is the reduction of institutions that advocate true compassion and fairness, including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, federalism, the Rule of Law, natural law, and traditional

    Read More

  • Law In Society

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Law is the foundation of central structures of social life on which society’s integrity depends, which is why Petrazycki, Ehrlich and Habermas perceive it to be a key steering mechanism in society,

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Justice In Plato's Republic

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    For Plato’s thesis – justice pays – to be validated, he has to prove two things, the first being that justice is inherently good. In

    Read More

  • Suffering and Salvation in Electra and Matthew

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Injustice and justice balance out. One might even go so far as to say that the two are one and the same, that they are two sides of the same coin. But why are they so important? Why have wars been waged over instances of injustice? Why are the two usually thought of as being separate? Both Euripides' Electra and the King James Version of Matthew suggest that justice and injustice are important and distinct because one brings about salvation, while the other is itself a sort of salvation. Injustice leads to the instance of justice—of salvation. Consequently, injustice and justice may be thought of as two separate and distinct ideas. Salvation is a concern that is dependent upon instances of injustice and justice. In Electra and Matthew, these instances of injustice and justice are acts of murder.

    Read More

  • God is Merciful and Just

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    The meaning to justice is behaving and acting to what is consequently good or fair. The act of justice is based upon equality being that people should get what they deserve. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” We see here in this verse that God is merciful and in all He does he is just in his discipline. As sinners we fall short of Gods glory and because of this when we commit our wrong doings such as adultery, lying, coveting, thieving, murdering, and worshiping false idols, etc is when we are judged for our sins and according to what God finds just is how we will be persecuted. Justice is an attribute that is showed to us everyday because of His sanctity. Man cannot understand justice if they don’t understand sin, we can try and hide from God or prolong our recognition to our actions because we know Go...

    Read More

More about Foundations of Biblical Justice and Law

Open Document